Crop yield maps may contain substantial corollary information regarding the distribution of yield related soil properties across a landscape. One of these properties is water holding capacity (WHC). Since WHC is an important parameter for crop models and is also critical for crop yield, our objective was to determine if WHC could be estimated by matching simulated yield with yield map data. We collected soil cores for water retention measurements and recorded plant phenological stages from 60 plots on four transects over two growing seasons (1997 and 1998). Soil cores were also sampled on 40 other locations set out on a grid pattern. We utilized a simple water budget model that uses the relative transpiration ratio to calculate relative yield from available water in the soil profile. Rainfall, potential evapotranspiration and soil water holding capacity are input. An optimization program varies the WHC to produce a grain yield similar to the one from the yield map at a particular location. This analysis was carried out over several scales by averaging yields over 55 m×71 m, 27 m×35 m, and 11 m×14 m areas. Yield data from 2 years were used. Yields from the transects in both years were significantly related to measured WHC in the surface 0–10 cm of soil. The calculated stress indices from the water budget model and estimated available WHC calculated for the 1997 data were similar to those calculated for the 1998 data where data were aggregated in 27 by 35 m or larger blocks. The contour map of estimated WHC was similar to the map of measured WHC for some features though there were also some differences. Use of multiple years of yield data are required to give stable results for estimated water holding capacities.. This information could be used in a farm management plan by allowing a producer to classify a field into areas that are buffered against drought and areas more susceptible to drought. 相似文献
The extent and persistence of the effect of soil compaction in a system with annual ploughing were investigated in 21 long-term field experiments in Sweden with a total of 259 location-years. Crop yield, soil physical properties and plant establishment were determined. All experiments had two common treatments: control (no extra traffic) and compacted (350 Mg km ha−1 of experimental traffic in the autumn prior to ploughing), using a tractor and trailer with traditional wheel equipment and an axle load restricted to 4 Mg. During the rest of the year, both treatments were conventionally and equally tilled. The compaction was repeated each autumn for at least 7 years, and the yield was determined each year until 5 years after the termination of the compaction treatment.
Compaction decreased the porosity and the proportion of large pores and increased the tensile strength of dry aggregates. On clay and loam soils, it decreased the proportion of fine aggregates in the seedbed and the gravimetric soil water content in the seedbed.
The yield in the compacted treatment declined compared with the control during the first 4 years, after which it reached steady state. During this steady state, the compaction treatment caused a yield loss of 11.4%, averaged over 107 location-years. Within 4–5 years after the termination of the compaction treatment, the yield returned to the control level. The average yield loss at individual sites increased with increasing clay content.
Results from additional treatments indicated that yield loss was linearly correlated with the amount of traffic up to 300–400 Mg km ha−1. With greater ground contact pressure or a greater soil water content at time of traffic, there was a greater yield loss.
Soil compaction effects on yield were similar for all spring-sown crops, and the percentage yield loss seemed to be independent of the yield. In a few location-years with winter wheat there was on average no yield decrease.
There were 5.1% less plants in the compacted treatment than in the control. The yield decrease was significantly correlated with the number of plants.
Between years results were highly variable, and no consistent correlations between yield loss and soil water content at the time of traffic or the weather conditions during the growing period were found. Soil compaction affected yield during years with good as well as poor conditions for crop growth. 相似文献
Water is the most important environmental constrain determining plant growth and fruit yield of olive tree plantations. Although olive trees are resilient to water-limited conditions of Mediterranean-type agroecosystems, crop yields may respond positively to any additional water up to a limit. A field experiment on olive trees was carried out with the aim to present guidelines for efficient management of irrigation scheduling, based on the relationship between plant water status and optimum fruit yield. These relationships were monitored during 2 years by analysing the influence of deficit irrigation strategies on vegetative development and yield parameters on mature modern-trained olive trees of cvs. Frantoio and Leccino. Treatments were: a non-irrigated control (rainfed) and three treatments that received seasonal water amount equivalent to 33, 66 and 100% of ETC in the period August–September, from the beginning of pit hardening to early fruit veraison. Atmospheric evaporative demand and soil moisture conditions were regularly monitored. Seasonal dynamics of plant water relations varied among treatments, and responded to variations in tree water status, soil moisture conditions and atmospheric evaporative demand. All measurements of tree water status were highly correlated with one another. Differences in yield between treatments indicated that water availability might have affected fruit weight before flowering or during the early stages of fruit growth rather than later in summer season. Results concerning crop yield revealed that irrigation of olive trees from the beginning of pit hardening could be recommended, at least in the experimental conditions of this study and in view of differences between genotypes. 相似文献
In semi-arid environments with a shortage of water resources and a risk of overexplotation of water supplies, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crop that can reduce water use and increase water productivity, because it takes advantage of spring rainfall and is harvested before the evaporative demands of summer. We carried out an experiment in 2003 at “Las Tiesas” farm, located between Barrax and Albacete (Central Spain), to improve accuracy in the estimation of wheat evapotranspiration (ETc) by using a weighing lysimeter. The measured seasonal ETc averages (5.63 mm day−1) measured in the lysimeter was 417 mm compared to the calculated ETc values (5.31 mm day−1) calculated with the standard FAO methodology of 393 mm. The evapotranspiration crop coefficient (Kc) derived from lysimetric measurements was Kc-mid: 1.20 and Kc-end: 0.15. The daily lysimeter Kc values were fit to the evolution linearly related to the green cover fraction (fc), which follows the crop development pattern. Seasonal soil evaporation was estimated as 135 mm and the basal crop coefficient approach was calculated in this study, Kcb which separates crop transpiration from soil evaporation (evaporation coefficient, Ke) was calculated and related to the green cover fraction (fc) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) obtained by field radiometry in case of wheat. The results obtained by this research will permit the reduction of water use and improvement of water productivity for wheat, which is of vital importance in areas of limited water resources. 相似文献
Economic growth in China’s agricultural sector lags behind growth in industry and services, creating an ever widening rural–urban income gap. Development of the non-agricultural sectors offers new opportunities for farmers in China’s more advanced provinces such as Zhejiang. Increased income in the urban sector creates markets for new products, and migrating farmers rent their land to those staying. Until now, the prevailing rice-based systems have been managed mainly using manual labour and animal traction, but the larger farms resulting from migration may facilitate, or even require mechanization. In this study, we use a simulation model of the farm household to analyse the effects of increasing farm size and the transition from rice to vegetable production, while also studying the effects of mechanization. 相似文献